Open FatShield v0.2.0-alpha.1

Open FatShield 0.2.0-alpha.1 — renamed command/service and installable packages.

Download a .deb, .rpm, or Arch .pkg.tar.zst package below, or the source
archive. SHA256SUMS covers every download. See package installation instructions.

The packages install the app, service and DKMS sources. The kernel module builds
locally for your running kernel; matching headers/devel and the kernel compiler
are still required. Debian/RPM/Arch format builds do not imply runtime hardware
validation on every distribution. Packages are unsigned.

The command is now open-fatshield, the service is open-fatshield.service, and
the GUI is named Open FatShield. The source installer has a tested migration from
the original shield-controller installation, preserving pairing and the prior
service startup state. Existing source-install users must uninstall that version
without --purge before switching to native packages; see the linked guide.
No compatibility command alias is installed. The ozwpan kernel driver is unchanged.

Gamepad controls, touchpad mouse, volume/mute, controller audio input/output and
rumble are confirmed working on the maintainer's CachyOS/Intel iwlwifi setup with
normal 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi connected. The rename upgrade was tested live: the new service
reported the controller connected using saved pairing, and the renamed GUI/helper
ran. Controller power-cycle reconnect, host reboot, roaming, long-duration use
and other adapters/distributions remain unvalidated.

This is an experimental community alpha, unaffiliated with NVIDIA. The 2017
Bluetooth controller uses a different transport and is outside this project.
Private captures, pairing secrets and machine-specific module binaries are excluded.

Open FatShield 0.1.0-alpha.1-r2 — source download and documentation

Open FatShield — experimental wireless Linux support for the original NVIDIA SHIELD Controller (0955:7210).

Download and install

Download open-fatshield-0.1.0-alpha.1-r2.tar.gz below, extract it, and follow README.md. The installer builds the driver for your running kernel through DKMS. This is a source package, not a prebuilt distribution package. SHA256SUMS is included for download verification.

tar -xzf open-fatshield-0.1.0-alpha.1-r2.tar.gz
cd open-fatshield-0.1.0-alpha.1-r2
sudo python3 packaging/install.py
shield-controller doctor
shield-controller pair
shield-controller gui

Install the prerequisites and matching kernel headers listed in the README first. Run doctor, pair and gui as your normal desktop user.

What changed in r2

• Updated project naming and repository links after the move to Open-FatShield.
• Added prominent downloads, separate archive/Git instructions, compatibility/status guidance and GUI setup.
• Bundled support, contribution, security and design documentation with installation.
• Added issue forms, a pull request template and read-only CI permissions.

Driver/application version remains 0.1.0-alpha.1. There are no driver or application runtime changes. Existing users do not need to reinstall for this documentation refresh.

Tested and pending

Rumble validation update: The maintainer has also tested rumble and confirmed it works on the tested setup. No driver or application changes are needed.

Audio validation update: The maintainer has now tested controller audio input and output and confirmed both work on the tested setup. This is an additional live test result; no driver or application changes are needed. The original source archive is unchanged; current compatibility documentation is maintained on the main branch.

Gamepad controls, touchpad mouse, volume/mute and installed-service input were tested on CachyOS with Intel iwlwifi and kernel 7.3.1 while normal 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi remained connected. Module builds were also checked against 6.18.55 LTS headers. All 21 automated tests pass locally; the Qt window has an offscreen smoke test.

Desktop tray interaction, saved-pairing reconnect, reboot, roaming, long-duration operation and other adapters/distributions remain unvalidated. This is an experimental alpha, unaffiliated with NVIDIA. The 2017 Bluetooth controller is outside this project’s supported model scope.

Private packet captures, credentials and machine-specific binaries are excluded from the archive. See SUPPORT.md for help and SECURITY.md for private vulnerability reporting.

0.1.0-alpha.1 — driver, Wi-Fi service and status tray

Experimental wireless support for the original NVIDIA SHIELD Controller (0955:7210).

Includes the modernized OZWPAN DKMS driver, a systemd service that shares a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi radio with NetworkManager, a Qt status tray/window, explicit WPS pairing and a desktop volume helper.

Live-verified on CachyOS with Intel iwlwifi and kernel 7.3.1: concurrent normal Wi-Fi, gamepad, touchpad mouse, volume, and installed-service input. Module also builds against 6.18.55 LTS headers. 21 automated tests pass locally; an offscreen Qt smoke test verifies the connected-state window.

Saved pairing across restart/reboot, desktop tray interaction, roaming and long-duration use are still being validated. Other adapters/distributions are untested. Read README.md before installing. This is an experimental kernel driver, not an official NVIDIA release.

Download the source archive, extract it and follow README.md. The archive excludes packet captures, credentials and machine-specific binaries. The installer builds the module for the target kernel through DKMS.